Retracting mechanism for printing elements of business machines



Dec. 2, 1952 c. H. STUIVENBERG RETRACTING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING ELEMENTS OF BUSINESS MACHINES Filed Aug. 6, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR- S TU/VENBEkG HTTO/ZNEVS Dec. 2, 1952 c. H. STUIVENBERG 2,619,900

RETRACTING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING ELEMENTS OF BUSINESS MACHINES Filed Aug. 6, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR COR NELIS HENDRICUS STUIVENBERG ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 2, 1952 RETRAC' IING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING ELEMENTS OF BUSINESS MACHINES Cornelis Hendricus Stuivenberg, Haarlem,

. Netherlands Application August 6, 1947, Serial No. 766,771 In Germany March 30, 19 9.3

Sectionl, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires March 30, 1963 This invention relates to business machines such as calculating, bookkeeping and similar machines, and more specifically concerns the retracting mechanism for printing elements in such business machines. Business machines of the type involved comprise type carriers which are reciprocably mounted and slidably support a plurality of printing elements which are actuated by a printing hammer for causing the respective printing element to effect a printing operation. After completion of the printing operation, the respective printing element is returned to its original or inoperative position by a retracting mechanism.

The type carriers of suchlike printing mechanisms up to now were so equipped that an inset which contained the typeblocks also contained a bar or similar device, which was pressed by a spring against the typeblocks and which bar in its turn pressed the typeblocks into their normal position. Type carriers with a great number of typeblocks optionally were equipped with a number of bars, each of which was pressed by a spring against a number of typeblocks. Instead of a number of bars angle-levers have already been applied for resetting typeblocks, which levers were in a particular way interconnected by a joint spring. In case of these known type carriers, the angle-levers together with the springs were also equipped within the type-inset.

The object of the invention is to simplify the resetting of the typeblocks and to reduce the width of the construction of the type carriers, so that a particular width of the printing mechanism can be equipped with a greater number of type carriers than up to now. According to the invention this object is reached because for resetting the typeblocks of each type carrier, the construction of the machine is provided with a device which is influenced by a resetting force and which is equipped independent of the movement of the type carriers. Thus according to the invention, the resetting bars and springs which in case of the known type carriers had been contained in the type-inset, are replaced by a device arranged separately in the construction of the machine, so that the width of the type-insets can be reduced in accordance with the rejected parts that were contained in them up to now. Consequently the type carriers of the printing mechanism according to the invention have a smaller constructional width than the known type carannexed drawing.

5 Claims. (Cl. 101-109) Fig. 1 shows a type-inset of a known type carrier.

Fig. 2 indicates the type carrier with a type-inset connected to it.

Fig. 3 represents a profile through the type carrier on a somewhat larger scale.

Fig. 4 shows a typeblock of the type carrier, also on a larger scale.

Fig. 5 is a printing mechanism according to the invention.

Fig. 6 shows a profile through two adjoining type carriers of the printing mechanism according to Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the printing mechanism according to the invention.

Fig. 8 is a profile through two adjoining type carriers of the printing mechanism according to Fig. 7.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate the operation of the arrangement shown in Fig. 7.

In Figs. 1-4 a type-inset 2 has been connected to the type carrier l, which inset has notches 3 for the guidance of the reciprocable typeblocks 4. To reset the typeblocks 4 a bar 5 is provided, which is pressed by a spring 6 against the camshaped extensions of the typeblocks 4. If a printing bar or a printing hammer brings one of the typeblocks 4 against the printing surface, the resetting bar 5, which is under the action of the spring 6, causes the operated type block to return to its normal position after impression has taken place. As may directly be derived from the drawing, especially from Figs. 1 and 3, the bar 5 and the spring 6 within the type carrier require a relatively great width, so that a certain width of the printing mechanism allows the provision of only a limited number of type carriers.

In the printing mechanism according to Figs. 5 and 6 the type carriers II have been provided with type-insets l2, in which the typeblocks it are so conducted that they can be shifted in longitudinal direction. For the resetting of the typeblocks [4 use is made of an angle-lever l5, which is under the action of a tension spring It. The arm of the angle-lever 15 which projects upwardly, is provided with a slanting part I1. The projections of the typeblocks 14 which co-operate with the angle-lever, have corresponding slanting parts. i8 is the printing roller, l9 the ink ribbon and 20 the hammer that strikes the typeblocks I 4. As may be derived from Fig. 6, the type carriers may be small of construction as regards their width, no room being required for resetting devices between the type carrier l l and the type-inset.

The arms of the angle-levers which have been equipped as resetting devices project into the existing interspace of the typeblocks M of adjoining type carriers.

When the printing mechanism is operating, the type carrier is pushed upwards in a known manner and positioned at the types that are to be impressed. During the impression the printing hammer 20 drops against the typeblock l4 that is in printing position and strikes this block against the printing roller IS, the required impression being obtained by means of the ink ribbon l9. When the respective type block I4 is thus being moved forwardly toward the printing roller l8, it takes along the arm l5 against the thrust of spring I6. After the impression has been made, the spring 5 by means of the angle-lever l5 returns the operated typeblock back to its normal position. If some typeblocks l4 near the operated typeblock l4 should have been shifted a little owing to shocks originated by the impression of the operated typeblock M, the blocks inquestion are pushed back into their normal position by the slanting part I! of the angle-lever l5, when the typebearer is moving back to its normal position; the pushing back of the typeblocks preferably is so effected that they are already pushed back, before coming within reach of the ink'ribbon l9. Thus possibly projecting typeblocks M are securely prevented from actuating the ink ribbon 16 during the downward movement of the type carrier.

The printing mechanism according to Figs. 7 and 8 comprises a type carrier with a great many typeblocks has been indicated, as e. g. applied to tabulating-machines for printing letters, figures and signs. In this case as resetting device for the typeblocks l4 two-arm levers 2| have been applied, which are pivotally supported by a shaft 22 outside of and separate from the type carrier 28 and type blocks 14 and. mounted in the machine frame. The two arm levers 2| 'are'each acted upon by ,a spring 23. As may :bederived from Fig. 8, the levers 2| will lie between "the free extremities of the type blocks Ill. The arm of the lever :21 that is co-operati-ng with the typeblocks M, has an extended 'head provided with slant surfaces 24, 25 for retaining the type blocks M to their normal or inactive position. The typeblocks M are provided with lateral extensions tor bosses 21 having inclined surfaces corresponding to and arranged for co-operation with the slant surfaces 2'4 and 25.

The operation of the printing mechanism according to Figs. '7 and. 8 in the main corresponds to the operation of the printing mechanism described above. When the type carrier is being shifted, typeblocks I4 that may have been pushed forward, are brought back "to their normal or inactive position by the slant surfaces 24, 25 of .the resetting lever 2| as will presently appear.

In Fig. 8, there is shown a portion of the type carrier'28 with two type blocks IA. 'The upper one of these type blocks is in its retracted position, while the lower type .block l4 shown .in Fig. .9 is not in its retracted position. As will be clear from Fig. 9, the lever 2| with its slant or beveled surface '25 just engages the .adjacent beveled surface of the extension .21 pertaining to the lower type block |4.- It will now be clear that, when the type carrier 28 is moved-in the direction of the arrow Q, the upper beveled surface of the extension 21 pertaining to the lower type block M will slide :along :the beveled surface 25 of-the lever 2| .until'the lastementioned extension 21 has moved behind the right-hand edge (with regard to Fig. 9) of the lever 2| so that the lower type block ll of Fig. 9 will be in its retracted position similar to the retracted position of the upper type blocks l4.

Referring now to Fig. 10, the situation is just reversed. In other words, the lower type block I4 is in its retracted position, while the upper type block I is not in its retracted position.

' It will be clear that, if now the type carrier 28 is moved in the direction of the arrow Z, the beveled surface 24 of the lever 2| will engage the lower beveled surface of the extension 21 pertaining to the upper type block M of Fig. 10 and will cause this upper type block to move into its retracted position.

The co-operating parts of the type blocks l4 and the lever 2| are preferably so arranged that the type blocks nearest to the ink ribbon of the printing mechanism are, when not being actuated by the printing hammer, sufliciently spaced from the ink ribbon so that a sticking of the ink ribbon through the type blocks is always avoided. During the actual printing operation, the respective lever 2| is taken along by the type :block which is acted .upon by the printing hammer, against the force of the spring .23, but as soon as the impression has been made and the actuating pressure .on the printing hammer has been released, the spring 23 automatically returns the respective type block H to its normal or "inactive position.

What'I claim is: V

1. In combination with a reciprocable type ,carrier having a plurality of printing elements respectively provided with lateral extensions and reciprocably mounted in said carrier, each of said lateral extensions being provided with a beveled surface, lever means having .a flat head portion provided with a lateral extension for engagement with any of the lateral extensions of said printing elements, said flat head portionalso being provided with a beveled end surface corresponding to the beveled surface of the lateral .extensions of said printing elements .of engagement with the beveled surfaces of said printing elements if the latter during the shifting .movement of the type carrier are not in'their retracted positions, pivot means for pivotally supporting said lever means, spring means connected to said lever means for continuously urgin said lever means and the printing elementengaged thereby into a retracted position, and means operable to actuate an of said printing elements against the thrust of said spring means to bring about a printing action of the respective printing element.

2. In combination with a reciprocable type-carrier having a plurality of printing elements respectively provided with'later-al extensions and reciprocably mounted in said carrier, each of the lateral extensions of said-printing elements being, provided with a first beveled surface and an oppositely directed second beveled surface, lever means having a flat head portion provided with lateral extension means arranged to extend behind the lateral extension of atleast one of said printing elements when said carrier is :in a predetermined position, said extension means being provided with a beveled surface for engaging the first beveled surface of any adjacent printing element when the latter is not in retracted position during the movement of said carrier in one direction to thereby return the respective printingielement .to its retracted position, .andthe .end portion of said flat head portion of; said lever means bein provided with a beveled surface arranged to engage the second beveled surface of any adjacent printing element when the latter is not in its retracted position during movement of said carrier in the other direction to thereby return the respective element to its retracted position, pivot means for pivotally supporting said lever means, spring means connected to said lever means for continuously urging said lever means and the printing element engaged thereby into retracted position, and means operable to actuate any of said printing elements against the thrust of said spring means for causing the respective printing element to perform a printing operation.

3. In combination in a business machine, a plurality of type carriers arranged side by side, a plurality of series of individually operable printing elements respectively reciprocably supported by said carriers, each printing element having a lateral extension with two oppositely inclined areas, a plurality of lever means having a flat head portion with a sloping end surface and with a lateral extension respectively extendin between two adjacent lever means, the lateral extensions of said lever means being provided with a beveled surface adapted to engage one of the oppositely inclined areas of said printing elements, the other one of said oppositely inclined areas being adapted to be engaged by said sloping end surface, pivot means separate from and supported independently of said carriers for pivotally supporting said lever means, spring means respectively associated with said lever means for continuously urging the same into contact with said lever means to thereby urge said lever means to move the printing elements engaged thereby into normal inactive position, and means operable to respectively actuate said printing elements to force the same into printing position against the thrust of said spring means.

4. In combination with a type carrier reciprocable in one direction past a printing position and having a plurality of printing elements therein in a line in the said one direction and the said elements being reciprocable in the carrier at an angle to the said one direction for printing operations, each printing element having a lateral extension on its end opposite the printing end thereof, each extension havin an inclined surface thereon on the side toward the printing end of the element and in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the said printing elements, a stationarily pivoted lever having one end extending to a position to one side of the one of the elements in the said printing position as determined by reciprocation of said carrier, an ofiset head on the said one end of the lever engaging behind said extension, said offset head having an inclined surface portion parallel to the said inclined surfaces on the ends of the said elements, an actuator to engage the end of the element which is in said printing position to move the element in its printing direction, and a spring acting on said lever to move the lastmentioned element and which is engaged thereby, in a direction opposite to the printing direction of the element, said surfaces on the elements and said surface portion on the offset head of the lever cooperating in one direction of movement of the carrier to move the elements not in fully retracted position into such position before they reach the said printing position when moved thereto by reciprocation of said carrier.

5. In combination with a type carried reciprocable in one direction past a printing line having a plurality of printing elements therein in a line in the said one direction and the elements being reciprocable in th carrier at an angle to the said one direction for printing operations, each element having a lateral extension on its end opposite the printing end thereof, each extension having an inclined surface thereon on the side toward the printing end of the element and in a plan perpendicular to the plane of the elements, a stationarily pivoted lever having a part engaging behind said extensions and said part terminating in an end just beyond the printing position of the elements, said printing position being where the elements register with said printing line and into which position they are moved by said carrier, said end of said lever part having a slanting surface portion parallel to the said surfaces on said extensions, an actuator to engage the nd of the element in the said printing position to move the element in its printing direction, and a spring acting on said lever to move the elements engaged thereby in a direction opposite to the printing direction thereof, said surfaces on the elements and said surface portion on the end of the said lever part cooperating in one direction of movement of the carrier to move the elements not in fully retracted position into such position before they reach the said one printing position.

CORNELIS HENDRICUS STUIVENBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,118,998 Authier Dec. 1, 1914 1,121,721 Dysart Dec. 22, 1914 1,548,954 Pasinski Aug. 11, 1925 1,780,674 Ewald Nov. 4, 1930 1,978,898 Ford Oct. 30, 1934 2,076,713 Ford Apr. 13, 1937 2,353,057 Mills July 4, 1944 

